The Piano (AU) Season 1 Episode 1
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#ThePiano
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00:00Beautiful has started to reverberate through our nation's public spaces.
00:04That distinctly rich sound of the world's favourite instrument, the piano.
00:11Sitting on footpaths, in shopping centres and train stations,
00:15across the country, Australians of all ages and walks of life are taking to the keys.
00:20Do you mind me asking how old you are, Bill?
00:22103.
00:23103?
00:24Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:25Dazzling, unsuspecting audiences, getting us up on our feet
00:33and moving us to tears.
00:38When the girls said, Dad really wanted to do this for Mum.
00:46We've searched the nation for passionate, everyday pianists.
00:50I live in Tasmania, so to play somewhere like this with people all around, I love it.
00:59So we're usually playing in their bedrooms or garages.
01:04Not for fame, but for the sheer joy of it.
01:09For these people, the piano is their voice.
01:12I feel a sense of freedom when I play the piano.
01:16The piano is just an essential part of my life.
01:19It's like breathing air.
01:20It's so important to me.
01:22How much do you love your classical music?
01:25Oh, this much!
01:28Each week, we'll be setting up a public piano
01:31at a different location around Australia
01:33and simply inviting people to play.
01:38Rub-a-ducky, you're the one.
01:43But there's a secret that our performers don't know.
01:48Listening on are two world-class pianists.
01:52I didn't know what to expect.
01:53I didn't know what we would see.
01:55And this exceeded every expectation I had.
01:58I just whispered to me.
02:01International superstar, Harry Connick Jr.
02:05He's won two Emmys and three Grammy Awards
02:07and he's sold over 30 million records.
02:12What?
02:16Alongside Harry is our very own critically acclaimed
02:20classical musician, Andrea Lamb,
02:23who has performed to audiences across the globe
02:26while playing on the world's most prestigious stages.
02:31I love that the purpose of what we're doing
02:34is to have people celebrate the piano.
02:37It's not about competition or who's better.
02:40It's simply about the music and how people feel
02:44and how it makes everything a little bit better.
02:48Their job is to select one pianist from each location.
02:52Andrea Lamb, Harry Connick Jr.
02:54Hey, guys.
02:55Can you just try starting from straight from here?
02:58To be mentored.
02:59You're the centerpiece.
03:01Those people are there to celebrate you.
03:03And to perform in a spectacular concert
03:05on one of Australia's most revered stages.
03:13Welcome to the piano.
03:15Our journey begins in Sydney,
03:30here at the biggest and busiest train station in Australia,
03:34Central Station.
03:35A staggering 250,000 passengers
03:45pass through these turnstiles every day.
03:48And it's here on Gadigal land
03:50that we've asked regular, everyday pianists
03:52to take a seat at this public piano.
03:56But of course, listening on,
03:57in a store room,
03:59are two of the world's greatest pianists.
04:01Here, this is you.
04:03Harry Connick Jr.
04:05And Andrea Lamb.
04:07This is our first,
04:09our first city.
04:10Very first city.
04:12Boo!
04:13Ah!
04:14Hey!
04:14Hi, Harry!
04:15Hi!
04:16Hi, Harry!
04:17How are you?
04:18Hello, hello!
04:19It's good to see you.
04:20You know, I bring you to the best places, don't I?
04:22Hey, this is really, really fancy.
04:24Well, there's a toilet next door.
04:25It could have been there.
04:26What kind of thing do you think we might see today?
04:32I don't know what to expect.
04:33I don't know what we're going to hear,
04:35who we're going to see.
04:36I'm sitting next to one of the all-time greats in the world.
04:41And I invited Andrea along as well.
04:44What an adventure this is going to be.
04:46These are people who play in the privacy of their own homes.
04:50How amazing that they're going to be performing here.
04:53These people love what they do,
04:55and that is always the music that speaks the most in any field.
04:59You have to really believe it, and you have to really live it,
05:02and then that comes through no matter what kind of music it is,
05:05who it is.
05:06It's so powerful.
05:07We have to find someone from today,
05:10because you guys are putting a concert together.
05:14What kind of experience do you want that to be?
05:17We want to feel something,
05:18and I think we're going to base our decision on feeling.
05:22It's thrilling, isn't it?
05:23It's completely thrilling,
05:24and it's all about the one instrument
05:26that can create all of these different palettes.
05:28I'm going to leave you to it.
05:30They're just out there.
05:31It's so exciting.
05:32I'll see you soon.
05:33See you soon.
05:37All right.
05:37Okay.
05:38Here we go.
05:39Here we go.
05:41Well, hello.
05:42Hello.
05:42Are you here to play the piano?
05:44I think so.
05:45I'm Amanda.
05:45Dominic.
05:46Hi, Dom.
05:46How are you?
05:47Am I allowed to call you Dom?
05:48Yep.
05:48I don't want to be over for me to just shit.
05:50That's all right.
05:50Come and sit down.
05:51How old are you?
05:52I'm 17.
05:53Are you?
05:53Yep.
05:54So are you still at school?
05:55I've got the HSC coming up soon.
05:57Oh, really?
05:57Okay.
05:58Well, good luck with all of that.
05:59And what else do you do?
06:01I work with my dad at his barbershop in Narawena.
06:03Are you cutting hair?
06:04No, I don't know.
06:05He won't teach me.
06:06Oh, really?
06:06No.
06:07You've got to tell him to teach me.
06:08Why won't you teach him?
06:10He's too smart.
06:11Oh.
06:12Get the thing and just sweep around the plants and all of that, please.
06:21Sweep under the couch.
06:23Wipe the chairs down.
06:25Working with my dad has its perks.
06:27Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
06:28He's very bossy.
06:30It's a good thing for you to listen to everybody that comes in here so you can hear their stories
06:36and learn from their mistakes instead of making them yourself.
06:41There's a variety of jobs my dad gets me to do.
06:44It's usually washing the hair, getting coffees.
06:49All the dirty work.
06:52Do many people know that you play?
06:53Do your mates know you play the piano?
06:54Not really.
06:55More just my family.
06:56My mates don't really know.
06:57Okay.
06:58Well, I won't tell a soul, okay?
06:59It's a secret just between us.
07:01I started learning the piano at seven.
07:03A lot of classical.
07:07But growing up, I used to be ashamed of it.
07:13Narrowing is different.
07:16People are definitely much more into sports.
07:19Playing the piano, it's not a very masculine thing.
07:24I was worried that if I told people that I played the piano, I'd be ridiculed or something.
07:29So I tried to hide it.
07:30The piano gives me a purpose.
07:34Like, I feel like this is my purpose, to play music.
07:39All right.
07:39Well, Dom, over to you.
07:41Thank you very much.
07:43I have no idea what he's going to do.
07:45I have no clue.
07:46I have no clue.
07:59Can you please?
08:29Wait, what?
08:39This is one of the pieces of classical music.
08:45Okay, are you seeing, like, the t-shirt and the sneakers?
08:50None of this makes sense.
08:59This is one of the trickiest bits.
09:10This is the octaves, the constant ostinata, repeating octaves.
09:14This is one of those things, like, it's like running a marathon.
09:17You keep on doing this over and over and over again,
09:20and it kind of, it feels like,
09:22when am I going to get there, when am I going to get there?
09:23He can play.
09:41No, he's playing. He's playing for real.
09:42I haven't had enough public piano before.
09:55Today, I just wanted to show everyone
09:56what I've been hiding for so long.
09:57I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that.
10:22Where has that come from?
10:25I don't know.
10:26Just extraordinary.
10:28You must know what a gift this is.
10:32Very proud of him. It was amazing.
10:34Yeah.
10:34And look, your dad's saying,
10:35don't cut hair, don't get scissors anywhere near those precious hands.
10:38Don't cut your fingers.
10:39Don't cut your fingers.
10:41Thank you so much.
10:42Oh, my gosh.
10:43You're amazing.
10:45That was nuts.
10:48Give me more. Give me more of that.
10:49I could take more of that kitty today.
10:50I need more. More, please.
10:58Now, you're in the heads of it.
11:00Are you complaining about my hair?
11:04We're the evergreens.
11:07You've got a choice in life.
11:09You can grow old and grow grey, or you can stay green.
11:13You can be like the green shoots.
11:15We feel we've been able to keep on growing in our relationships and with our music.
11:24Ah, there she is.
11:25Well, hello.
11:26Hello.
11:27Let me take your handbag so you can all relax.
11:29Give me those. Give me those.
11:31Is it four?
11:32They're playing?
11:33No.
11:35Hello.
11:36Look at you all.
11:37I'm stumped as to how four people play one piano.
11:41Yes.
11:42Is there any jostling for pole position?
11:44No, no.
11:44We do move around.
11:45We move around.
11:46And if someone misses a bit, we might.
11:50This is adorable.
11:51I love this.
11:52Need your music.
11:53There we go.
11:54Yeah.
11:54Tell me where your wallet is.
11:55Okay.
11:57Amanda's going to root through all their handbags while they're playing.
11:59Take all their cash.
12:01I wonder if they fight during rehearsal.
12:03Like, if it gets really tense.
12:04Oh, I hope so.
12:05I would love to see that.
12:07Oh, if they miss practice, they go in the naughty corner.
12:09Yes, absolutely.
12:11You know, that black mark.
12:13Hello.
12:14Hello.
12:14There we are.
12:15Hi.
12:16I'm Barb, and I've just turned 80 this year.
12:19And then there's Bev.
12:20She's 81.
12:22Oh, it's apple and cinnamon cake.
12:24Nell, she's 75.
12:26And Christine's the baby of the group at 68.
12:29Bob, you realise we're going to have to get stronger stools if this goes on.
12:36To be playing with four people, you know, a bit of a elbow shoving, and where does the
12:42hand go here or does it go there, and you're in my place sort of thing.
12:46Are we starting?
12:47No, no.
12:47Yeah.
12:48I'm so excited to hear this.
12:51Evergreens.
12:52Ready?
12:53One, two, three, four.
12:55This is the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life.
13:16This is...
13:18This is the greatest moment of my life.
13:20Ever.
13:21Ever.
13:25So who, in your mind, is dictating the tempo?
13:31It's usually the person who has the most rhythmic material or the melody.
13:39But ideally, no one's really the leader.
13:41Like, it's a combination of leading and following.
13:44It's just like a conversation.
13:46Oh, the crosshands.
13:48I've never seen anything like this before.
13:51God forbid somebody screws up, man, because all hell's going to break loose.
14:01She's digging the groove over here in the audience.
14:09Why did you think I was going to play?
14:11Can you hear the cheer?
14:18Oh, weren't they magnificent?
14:21Bravo.
14:22The Evergreens are about our love for music and our friendship.
14:28It's that joy that comes from being together.
14:32Just wonderful.
14:34Did you expect that?
14:35I don't think anybody could expect that.
14:37That just makes life better.
14:39Oh, I'm so happy right now.
14:41Look at what you've done.
14:42Look at how you've captivated this audience.
14:44People have missed their trains because of you.
14:48The Evergreens.
14:50I'm not sure you're walking up straight, girls.
14:53Put your shoulders back.
14:55I have never seen anything like that in my life.
14:58I know.
14:58So, like, where do you put them in the grand scheme of things?
15:02And what happens next?
15:04Yeah, how do you follow that?
15:06The train on Platform 5 terminates at this station.
15:14I'm DJ Ha.
15:16When I was younger, I was a bit of a piano nerd.
15:21Hello.
15:22I'm Amanda.
15:23Hello.
15:23Hello, Amanda.
15:24I'm DJ.
15:25Hi, DJ.
15:25Come on up.
15:26DJ.
15:27DJ.
15:28So, tell me about DJ.
15:30What's your history with music?
15:31I play piano since I was little, and I went to a conservatorium of music, a tertiary.
15:42Serious musician.
15:43And then I went to Russia for my postgraduate studies.
15:49Wow.
15:49Music school was wonderful.
15:57I wanted to become a concert pianist.
16:00That was my dream.
16:03I was thinking about my future hopes or dreams.
16:10But then I had my stroke.
16:15Yeah.
16:15Yeah.
16:19After my peaceful sleep, which lasted around three weeks, I, uh, uh, my whole of the right-hand
16:41side switched off.
16:43So, I thought I couldn't play the piano again.
16:54It was a very big shock for me.
17:00Piano music is important in my life.
17:03Because, uh, you, you don't have to say anything, but, uh, you express your emotions through your
17:15playing.
17:19Being not able to play was, uh, very depressing and very boring.
17:26But I thought, wait, I might have, uh, one hand, but I, I have five fingers, still five fingers.
17:41That is actually going to be okay.
17:46How do you learn to play with just five fingers?
17:49Yeah.
17:50Thumb is very important.
17:52Thumb gets the melody and, uh, nice tunes.
17:57Pinky is very important.
17:59The pinky gets all the bass line.
18:06Three little fingers all gets all the harmonies and subtle colors.
18:17Enough.
18:18Wow, this guy's got more courage than I could ever dream of having.
18:23The human spirit is unstoppable.
18:48This piece, it's one of those things that's unusual.
18:56It's very hard to accomplish what he's accomplishing with one hand.
19:07He's doing beautifully.
19:09It's, like, super hard to, like, play across your body like that.
19:21I mean, he's playing in the highest register of the piano.
19:23Yeah.
19:24To get the whole range.
19:33He's got his thumb, three middle fingers, and his pinky doing three separate voices.
19:37That's unbelievable.
19:38I mean, that really is.
19:45When I realized I could play piano again, it was like a homecoming for me.
19:54I feel like I got my voice back.
20:01Now I can express myself.
20:08And I'm satisfied with my life again.
20:15I feel so lucky to be in the same orbit as this man.
20:32It's incredible.
20:33It takes a lot to come into a public space like this.
20:37It takes a lot to teach yourself to play again.
20:39I just think you're remarkable, and I'm so glad you joined us today.
20:48To those of you who are going through dark times, focus on what you love, and your love will save you.
21:00So can you imagine?
21:01We're trying to curate this concert, and this is someone who had dreams of doing exactly that.
21:09It would be such an honor to even consider being a part of giving him that gift.
21:16I was hoping I'd see a dog.
21:17Hello.
21:18Can I pick up your dog?
21:19Yep, yep.
21:20Hey, Coco.
21:21Hello.
21:22Hello.
21:23Hello.
21:24Hello.
21:25Hello.
21:26Hello.
21:27Hello.
21:28Oh, hey, Coco.
21:30To a...
21:31OK, OK, OK.
21:46We'll obviously edit that bit out
21:50because normally dogs just love me.
21:53See you, Coco.
21:56The train on Platform 2 to Hornsby
21:59is delayed by approximately 10 minutes.
22:10Back at the public piano
22:11with the help of his granddaughter, Grace,
22:13Paul is pulling out a crowd pleaser.
22:15And the symphony in Sydney's Central Station continues.
22:45Her voice, it's beautiful.
22:54Could somebody else have sung that like her?
22:56And I think the answer is no.
22:57But we do have to think about the final performance
22:59and the role that the piano places in that
23:02because I think that's really the focus.
23:04From the city to the country,
23:06people are lining up to play for passers-by,
23:09purely for the love of the piano.
23:11She's expressing herself through the piano
23:22and it's like in her love language.
23:27For this concert, it's not quite what we're looking for.
23:30Yeah, I agree.
23:31Since the first piano arrived on our shores in 1788,
23:36the nation's heart has been captivated by the instrument,
23:40much like 16-year-old Fergus.
23:42Who are your inspirations, your musical inspirations?
23:45Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick Jr.
23:47Who doesn't love Harry Connick Jr.?
23:49He's got good ears, too.
24:06He sings in tunes.
24:07Mmm.
24:13Harry Connick Jr.
24:15Watching the budding Harry Connick Jr.
24:17You are all I long for
24:23All I worship and adore
24:27In other words
24:29Please be true
24:32In other words
24:37Our love
24:40Are you
24:43Wow!
24:47That is awesome
24:49How long have you had that voice?
24:52That is the creepiest thing I've ever done in my life.
24:55Wasn't he amazing?
24:57Everyone's just gobsmacked.
24:58Oh, this is so exciting.
24:59I do want to go out there so bad.
25:01Fergus, it's fabulous.
25:02Thank you so much.
25:04If only your heroes were here to watch that.
25:05Okay, what?
25:11Okay, what?
25:13Wow.
25:13Okay, like, I had chills.
25:15I just wanted to go and give him the biggest hug.
25:17Well, tell you what, you are going to blow his mind when you walk out later this afternoon.
25:22I can't wait.
25:23I can't wait.
25:24I can't wait.
25:25I'll leave you to it.
25:25We've got more to see.
25:26That was so fun.
25:28Amazing.
25:28The train on Blackboard 5 terminates at this station.
25:32Would all customers please do not join the train.
25:35My name is Maya and I live in Perth.
25:44That's it, all you have to say, okay?
25:46My name is Maya, I live in Perth and I'm five.
25:52And how do you feel about playing today?
25:55I'm a bit nervous.
25:59Well, hello.
26:01Hello.
26:02Hello, are you here to play the piano?
26:04Look at how cute she is.
26:07How old are you, Maya?
26:09Five years old.
26:10Five years old?
26:11How long have you been playing the piano?
26:13Three years.
26:15Who's it got here?
26:17Ballerina.
26:18And who's this one?
26:20Dudu.
26:20Dudu?
26:21And who's this one?
26:23Nunu.
26:23Nunu, Dudu and ballerina.
26:26I think I've got it.
26:27I think I've got it.
26:30Maya has been learning English only like the last couple of years.
26:35We only speak French at home.
26:37Spent a lot of time, just the two of us.
26:39And I think the fact that she couldn't speak English very well,
26:42it's even push even more her shyness.
26:49I remember taking my little stuffies when I was little
26:52and putting like one on the edge of the piano when I performed.
26:55It's so cute.
26:56The doll is killing me.
27:03The doll is killing me.
27:03Wait, what?
27:09She's five.
27:13Wait, what?
27:26She's five.
27:27We're both seeing this, right?
27:29She's got some dynamics happening.
27:31Phrasing is beautiful.
27:33I feel like she's telling a story when she plays.
27:39She gets a lot out of the music.
27:40You can see her body language.
27:42Like, it's not just about the act of playing piano.
27:46She's feeling something.
27:48She's really talented.
27:49I think she's got a lot of potential.
27:51I think she's got a lot of potential.
28:21My heart's thumping.
28:22That was truly extraordinary.
28:24Where does that come from?
28:26I'm very proud, obviously.
28:29And I'm very surprised that she can be very confident on the piano
28:34when in real life she's quite a shy kid.
28:38You have blown me away today.
28:41That was a beautiful, beautiful performance.
28:43And congratulations.
28:44It's almost like she doesn't know what she just did.
28:47It's like she went into another space.
28:50With that concert in mind, do we need to consider her?
28:53Absolutely.
28:54See you next time.
28:59Oh, I don't think I'll ever recover from that.
29:02I'm proud of you.
29:04Oh, wow.
29:08I know.
29:09Oh, what is she?
29:10Five.
29:12Did you enjoy that?
29:14Yes.
29:14Yeah?
29:16She reminds me a bit of myself when I was younger.
29:19I remember being three years old and standing up and the keys were here
29:25and just being fascinated by the fact that you could press these keys down
29:30and these sounds would come out.
29:32That was the most captivating, compelling experience.
29:44Over this way.
29:45Right over on your left.
29:47All right, who's up?
29:48Is it him?
29:50Can you see the piano?
29:51Is it nice?
29:52Oh, yes, hon.
29:53Yeah.
29:53It is.
29:54Yeah, she's carrying the music.
29:57Good afternoon.
29:57I'm Amanda.
29:59What's your name?
30:01Bill Gordon.
30:01Hello, Bill.
30:03Do you mind me asking how old you are, Bill?
30:05I think you've come in with your daughter.
30:06Come and join us.
30:07What's your name?
30:08My name's Sue.
30:09Hello, Sue.
30:10I'm 103.
30:12103?
30:13Yeah, yeah.
30:14He's 103 years old.
30:15I've never met anybody who's 103.
30:18You're in very good nick.
30:21Thank you very much, madam.
30:22Oh.
30:23You know what's really nuts?
30:24He was 98 when Maya was born.
30:27I know.
30:28Oh, my gosh.
30:38Play it, brother.
30:43That is old school time right there.
30:45That's old school.
30:46I mean, you could such a watch of that.
30:53Man.
31:02Playing a piano, I have something to hang on to.
31:05His hearing is getting worse and worse.
31:11His sight is failing.
31:15But when he plays the piano, he just comes to life.
31:22If I didn't have the piano, it would be so difficult to really exist.
31:29You're a marvel.
31:30I watched you.
31:34You weren't even really looking at the notes.
31:50You've remembered it all.
31:51I can't see them in the dark.
31:53You've remembered them all.
31:55Yeah, yeah, yeah.
31:56It's in there somewhere.
31:58It's in there somewhere.
32:00What a brilliant man.
32:02Here goes Bill.
32:05Bill's like, I've got to get out of here to go to my next gig.
32:08You know, he's probably got a gig tonight somewhere.
32:12If you told me that would have happened early this morning, I just wouldn't believe it.
32:17But they were so genuine with their warmth, and they helped me.
32:23My name is Andrew.
32:48Andrew, I'm 29 years old, from Sydney.
32:51I really struggled as a kid.
32:55Depression, anxiety, OCD, which was completely controlling, and I was incredibly lost.
33:03And when I was, you know, turning 18, 19, I was always terrified, being so open and vulnerable
33:15about what I was going through.
33:21To the point of actually being institutionalised.
33:24There was like a piano in the mental health ward, and so every day I sat down and played.
33:39One thing I've recognised about music in my life is that it's been one of the things
34:00that's extremely consistent.
34:11It's never left, even when I thought it would.
34:17There are so many studies about how music does help people.
34:23It's incredible that music can have that power.
34:26It is.
34:26If you were at a point in your life where you could use some sort of emotional therapy,
34:42would you turn to music?
34:44The closest that happened was I was living overseas, and my grandfather was not doing well.
34:51So I, um, sorry, I played a piece that was very close to both of us, and that was the closest.
34:58I did not expect that.
35:00Sorry.
35:02Sorry.
35:05I'm sure it was helpful to him.
35:10I did not expect this.
35:12You know, what we go through makes us who we are.
35:22I think the biggest thing we can do is just talk about it.
35:34You ruined my make-up.
35:38I'm going to stand down here.
35:39I think the light moved me so much.
35:46That's so kind of you.
35:49I didn't expect to be moved like, like that.
35:53Andrew, everybody.
35:55Oh, thank you.
35:56Thank you very much.
36:01Yeah, that was special.
36:09Today, we've had pianists from all walks of life, each giving up their time, simply to
36:22bring joy to the commuters of Central Station.
36:24Our next performer is here to play a piece written straight from his heart.
36:32My name is Dobby.
36:34I'm 30 years old, born and raised in Wollongong, and currently living on Camarigal country,
36:39North Sydney.
36:39I'm Amanda.
36:40Hello.
36:41Lovely to meet you.
36:42Hello.
36:42Come on up.
36:42I hope that there's going to be people who watch me and can say, oh, I can do that too.
36:48Tell me about you.
36:50I'm a proud Filipino, Aboriginal and Anglo part-time lecturer.
36:56I've always had the privilege of being able to learn about, you know, myself and my identity,
37:01especially my Indigenous identity, but then to be able to teach that back to people, it's
37:05pretty amazing.
37:06When you're growing up, how was it for you, being a mixture of different cultures like
37:10that?
37:10You know, trying to find where I fit in in all of that was a bit tough, you know, but
37:16it's a common story, you know, where, you know, Indigenous people, I didn't necessarily
37:21see someone that looked exactly like me or was exactly like me on the TV screen or in
37:25music.
37:29As a young kid growing up, it was tough for me to try and navigate my identity.
37:35My food was made fun of.
37:37My accent was kind of made fun of.
37:41I didn't really know any other Aboriginal Filipino people, you know, and so it kind of makes you
37:46feel just naturally quiet, sort of othered and alienated, but the piano has always been
37:52my expression.
37:54My name is Dobby.
37:55I'm a proud Filipino and Mordoware musician.
37:58It's helped me understand my place in this world.
38:01It's helped me understand my place in this world.
38:01His ancestors are so lucky to have him.
38:15God bless him.
38:17Yo, every day I'm older.
38:33Yo, every day I'm older
38:37I'm not getting younger
38:38Eventually we'll die soon
38:40They can make you wonder
38:41Hip-hop vocals
38:42Yes
38:43We haven't seen this yet
38:44Oh, this is the best
38:46Could you stay around, please?
38:47I don't want to die now
38:49Too good of a time now
38:50I learned how to stand up
38:52Ain't no way to lie down
38:53Make my way to high ground
38:55Just want to see it all
38:56Using k is my pain relief
38:57And rap is paracetamol
38:59So take a bow
39:00For your fault
39:00Then you need to call me in the morning
39:02Hip-hop uses samples, right?
39:04Yeah
39:04And he's got his own
39:05And anyone can play that
39:09That's what I think makes the piano
39:13So accessible to all of us
39:15Very cool
39:16I love that he has such a rich culture
39:27And he's connected it
39:29Through to his music
39:30I guess hip-hop music and piano
39:47Was always that platform of expression
39:49Where I could
39:50I learned so much about
39:52Oh, I can tell my story
39:53And I can be that person
39:55That I wanted to see for myself
39:57As a young boy
39:58I like this kid
40:03The people are into it
40:15How'd you feel?
40:16Yeah, it feels great
40:17Does it feel great?
40:18Thank you so much
40:18Yeah
40:19Playing this song
40:22In Central Station
40:24In front of everyone
40:25It adds another building block
40:27To understanding and forming my identity
40:30Do you sing?
40:35Oh, nobody wants to hear that
40:36I mean, it's terrible
40:37I sing to my kid
40:38I sing to myself
40:40That's about all the audience
40:41That want to hear
40:41What song do you sing to yourself?
40:45Mostly my catalogue?
40:46Exactly
40:47We've seen pianists from across the country today
40:52Including a farmer
40:55Who's travelled a long way to be here
40:57My name's Hayley
41:00I'm from Balatta
41:01By car
41:02To get to Sydney
41:03It would take about
41:04Seven and a half hours
41:06I've chosen to play Jessica's theme
41:15Breaking in the Colt
41:16From The Man from Snowy River
41:18What's the deal with the film?
41:26It's really synonymous with
41:28So many things about Australia
41:29I live with my husband Mark
41:35We've been married for 21 years
41:38I knew when I was about 16
41:45That I was going to marry him
41:47That's her favourite spot
41:57To be scratched
41:58Just behind the ear
41:59She really likes that
42:02Mark and I weren't blessed with children
42:05It just never happened for us
42:09It takes a bit of your heart with it
42:12When I play
42:23I feel like
42:24I can just
42:26Block out everything that's happened
42:28This song brings back a lot of warm memories
42:37It's a good fire
42:38Good job
42:39And reminds me of the life that Mark and I have now
42:45We're fine to move on in our lives with each other
42:48And just having that quiet time playing for Mark
42:53That's what connects us
42:57I was transported right back to that film
43:12And the horses galloping
43:14It was beautiful
43:15Wasn't she amazing?
43:17Just amazing
43:18Oh, that was exciting
43:19Yeah
43:20Very daunting
43:21But yeah, that was great
43:23I just witnessed some Australian culture right there
43:27True Australia
43:28Country girl
43:28Country girl
43:30Man from Snowy River
43:31All I need is a Vegemite sandwich
43:32Hello Amanda
43:44Hello
43:44How would you do?
43:45Good to meet you
43:46What's your name?
43:47Michael
43:47Hello Michael
43:48Come on up
43:48Come and have a seat
43:50You look very dandy today
43:51This guy can play
43:52I can tell
43:53But what style of music?
43:55He might bust out some classical
43:56Yeah
43:56Or he's the wrong guy
43:57And he's just getting on a train
43:58What's the Michael story?
44:01Do you have a family?
44:02Yes
44:02Four beautiful girls
44:04And they're all married
44:05And they have families
44:06I have a wife, of course
44:08And what's your wife's name?
44:09My wife's name is Vyesha
44:10Vyesha
44:11And is Vyesha here today?
44:12No, unfortunately
44:13She's in a nursing home
44:16But I do have a picture of her
44:17Yes, please
44:18So sweet
44:20Do you mind me asking why she's in the home?
44:23Well, unfortunately
44:24She has calcification in the brain
44:26Which has affected her functioning
44:28And she just really needs constant care
44:31It's just not really possible for her to live at home anymore
44:35That's hard
44:37It is very hard
44:38It has now been four years that she's been in care
44:40The house just seems so utterly empty
44:43Just me
44:44Really, that's
44:46How can I describe it?
44:48I know exactly what you're saying
44:49My husband's not well
44:50And you feel like you lose them in increments, don't you?
44:53Yes, yes
44:54It's a lonely journey, isn't it?
44:56It is
44:56Loving someone who's not with you
44:58Yes
44:58My wife and I
45:03We've been married for 51 years
45:05When we met, we just clicked
45:09I felt I could say and do anything with her
45:12You know, we just
45:13The souls met
45:16We've done everything together
45:19Shopping was part of it
45:22Having family was part of it
45:24The gardening we did together
45:27We were real partners
45:30I think that my wife's going into care
45:36Really took me somewhat off guard
45:38What's that, darling?
45:41A picture up there
45:42That's our wedding photo
45:44That's our wedding photo
45:45To have to live without her
45:47It's been a real, really, really problem for me
45:50It's just a loneliness
45:57You're staring into the darkness
46:00Where there used to be light
46:01But it has been really fortunate for me
46:07That I've had my music
46:08Playing the piano has helped me a great deal
46:14I can just go to any piano
46:16At any time
46:17And I can play
46:18I love going to the aged care facility
46:22And playing for my wife
46:23And it's just lovely
46:25That I do have at least that opportunity
46:27To share with her
46:28A bit of what we've lost
46:30The piano
46:33It's just an essential part of my life
46:35It's like breathing air
46:36It's so important to me
46:38What about the music you're going to play today?
46:43Is it something special?
46:44It is
46:45I'm planning to play Frederick Chopin
46:47What's known as the Aeolian Harp Etude
46:51Oh
46:51It's special to me because
46:54She just loved me playing that piece
46:56And I think, really
46:58I think I could honestly say
46:59It helped to win her over to me
47:01You know?
47:04He is a piano to woo his wife
47:06There's a little recipe
47:07For anyone out there
47:08Who wants to win over their sweetheart
47:10Learn the Aeolian Harp Etude
47:12She is going to love it
47:16I hope so
47:17He's such a sweetheart
47:18He is
47:20Oh, man
47:43One of the difficult things
47:57About this
47:59Is to make this effortless
48:00And to have that melody
48:01Come out beautifully
48:02And to get those leaps
48:03And he's getting that
48:06I can tell you one thing
48:11This guy can play
48:12When I play
48:18I can let out the fury
48:20And the anger
48:21All the beauty
48:28And the
48:29Warmer things of love
48:31Come out
48:32We go into another world
48:36So to speak
48:37And I think about
48:38Vyesha
48:39About 47 years
48:42Of experiences together
48:44Take a bow
49:04Wow
49:09Look at this
49:10Your wife
49:16Would be so proud of you
49:17I'm sure
49:18I love the role
49:19That that song's played
49:20In your long life
49:22In your long marriage
49:23Thank you
49:23Beautiful
49:24Good
49:25Michael, thank you
49:26I love that Michael
49:27Has this as part of his life
49:29And part of his soul
49:30And he gave that
49:31It was part of him
49:32And he shaped it beautifully
49:33And it was
49:34And it was for his wife
49:36It's so personal
49:37And that's what music is all about
49:38Well, it's not your traditional love song
49:46But how powerful it was
49:49And the story he must be seeing
49:50In his head
49:51Who they are now
49:53Who they were then
49:54All the changes that happen
49:55As you go along
49:56Oh, all power to him
49:58It's only a step forward
50:11We've asked all of those
50:14Who played at the public piano
50:15At Central Station
50:16To gather together
50:17Here we are
50:19So that they can meet
50:21For the very first time
50:23What did you play?
50:25I played the harp study
50:26By Chopin
50:26Oh, wonderful
50:28Nice to meet you
50:28What's your name?
50:29Dom
50:29Oh, I'm Fergus
50:30And I'm a great fan
50:31I told our pins to come
50:34Under the guise
50:35Of a group photo shoot
50:36But
50:38Little do they know
50:39Right in front of their eyes
50:41Harry and Andrea
50:42Are deciding
50:43Which one of them
50:44Will be invited to play
50:45At their very special concert
50:47So we're looking for somebody
50:51That just moves us
50:52In an instant
50:53And there were so many
50:54Of those moments today
50:56It was incredible
50:57Wasn't it?
50:57They'd strike a piece of music
50:59That just gets you
51:00In the solar plexus
51:01You don't have to know the song
51:02To be so moved by it
51:04That's the thing
51:05I thought I love our music
51:06It's just immediate
51:07You've got a tough job
51:09It really is
51:10Can we take six?
51:11I know
51:11Well, tell me who the six are
51:13Five or six
51:13Tell me who you want to talk about
51:15Who are you thinking of?
51:17I would love
51:18To talk more about DJ
51:19That story of resilience
51:25And heart
51:26And hope
51:27It's phenomenal
51:28And playing that with one hand
51:31With that level
51:32Of musicianship
51:34Yeah
51:34I just can't get over that
51:36How about Dom?
51:40I was really taken aback
51:41By that
51:42We had no idea
51:44Can we talk about the evergreens?
51:47Oh
51:48Oh
51:48Man
51:49Eight matching hands
51:51And jewellery
51:52All doing this
51:53That was just unbelievable
51:57And what about the other end
51:59Of the age scale?
52:01Maya
52:01Five years old
52:03With the little doll
52:05The ballerina
52:06She has it all
52:07The phrasing
52:08Everything
52:09You've got a big decision to make
52:13And I'm out of here
52:13So you can make it
52:14See ya
52:15Oh boy
52:16Okay guys
52:20Come in nice and close
52:21Let's get my photo
52:22Hello, hello
52:24Sorry to interrupt your photo shoot
52:26You have given us
52:29An extraordinary day
52:30You have changed
52:32The mood of Central Station
52:34But
52:35I've been keeping
52:36A little secret from you
52:38Not only have you been performing
52:41For all the commuters here
52:43You've also been performing
52:45For one of Australia's
52:46Greatest classical pianists
52:48Oh
52:49And a global
52:52Musical superstar
52:54Oh
52:55I'd like to introduce you
52:58To Andrea Lamb
53:00Oh no way
53:01And Harry Connick Jr
53:04Hey guys
53:14I'm just a bit overwhelmed
53:18To be honest
53:19Harry Connick Jr
53:20Is
53:20He's just an inspiration of mine
53:22So
53:22I don't know
53:23How to act
53:24To be frank
53:25Fergus
53:26Can I give you a hug?
53:28Come here Fergus
53:29Man I'm so proud of you
53:31So proud of you
53:33You got so much potential
53:35So much talent
53:36It's really really wonderful
53:38To hear you say
53:39What do you say?
53:40Thank you
53:41Thank you
53:42You too
53:42I felt so lucky to hear
53:45Like a piece of
53:46Like real Australia
53:47Like hearing that song
53:49By a real cowgirl
53:50That was
53:52That was the coolest
53:53It was beautiful
53:54Just to hear
53:54That you were thinking
53:57Of your wife
53:57For that
53:57And all of the connections
53:58That music and shop on
54:00Yes
54:00And that's been so special
54:02I mean she's really been
54:03So much part of my life
54:04It was amazing
54:05To see all of these lives
54:07Colliding
54:07And the piano
54:08Was in the centre of it all
54:10So
54:12Each one of you
54:13Has really moved us
54:15And we're truly honoured
54:17To have been able to hear
54:19And watch all of you
54:20We have a surprise for y'all
54:23We're planning something
54:25Very special
54:26And we'd like to include
54:27All of y'all in it
54:29Where I'm from
54:30We say all y'all
54:31All y'all
54:32The plural of y'all
54:33Is all y'all
54:34And we would like to invite
54:36All y'all
54:37To a very special concert
54:40We've got this amazing venue
54:42One of the most venerated stages
54:44In Australia
54:45The City Recital Hall
54:47And we would love to invite
54:50All of you
54:51To come to that concert
54:52As a small thank you
54:53For what you've shared with us
54:54Would you all be our guests?
54:57Yes
54:57Of course
54:58But there's one
55:00Little catch
55:01One of you
55:04Is going to perform
55:07In the concert
55:08It was so hard
55:10You each brought
55:11Such varied things
55:13But this person
55:14Both of us find you
55:16A true inspiration
55:17So with that said
55:19The person that we'd like to invite
55:21To perform
55:22In that concert
55:23Is
55:24DJ
55:28Congratulations DJ
55:35We're so
55:37So, so, so proud
55:39Well done
55:41I don't
55:43I don't
55:45I can't think
55:47I'm overwhelmed
55:50And
55:51I can't think
55:53DJ
55:54It was such a pleasure
55:56To hear you
55:56Thank you
55:57Thank you so much
55:57I feel humble
55:59I feel honored
56:01Yeah
56:01Thank you for allowing us
56:04To be a part of that
56:06And we look forward
56:07To the concert
56:08I never thought
56:10I would get this
56:11Opportunity again
56:13If I play
56:15I'm playing before you
56:16Because I know
56:18Who's going to get
56:19The most applause
56:20I've never been to
56:21A city recital hall
56:22Ever
56:23And
56:25For me
56:27To be
56:27To be invited
56:28To play
56:29At that hall
56:31Is
56:33Amazing
56:34Next time
56:38The piano